In 1969 O's lost 4 straight (after winning the opener) to the Amazin's and lost the World Series which was all but guarranteed to them. Facing the Mets again, albeit a different season, the O's vowed to turn the tables and exact a pound of revenge.
GAME 1: (Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, MD) Crafty lefties Bob Ojeda and Dave McNally hooked up for a classic pitcher's duel. McNally got 2 runs, Ojeda got 0 and the O's took the opener. Brooks Robinson hit a tape measure shot off Ojeda in the 2nd to open the scoring. McNally himself participated in the offense as he singled in the 5th and moved to second when Met RF'er Darryl Strawberry booted the ball and let it go all the way to the wall. Two batters later Davey Johnson singled him home for all the runs that the O's would need on the day.
GAME 2: Featured two lefty starters just like the opener. Both Mike Cuellar
and Sid Fernandez were less than impressive. Cueller hung around longer to notch the win to got 5-0, but this game was all on the offense. Up 5-3 in the 6th Randy Myers couldn't hold the game and the O's went on top to win 6-5. George Foster hit 2 big homers for the Mets, who thought it was going to hold up. Oriole magic saw to that not happening. Chico Salmon pinch hit for Cuellar in the 6th and triggered a huge rally with 2 outs. Frank Robinson doubled in 2 in a huge 3 running inning for the birds.
GAME 3: (Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY) This contest saw Ron Darling no hit the O's for 5 innings and look extremely comfortable riding a 5 run 1st inning offense explosion by his teammates. The O's being as magical as they are didn't panic and scored 6 runs in the top of the 9th and the shocked fans at Shea expecting miracles of their own just fell silent. The O's had 6 consecutive batters reach base, which included back to back homers by Frank Robinson and Boog Powell. Paul Blair had the GWRBI with a sac fly. He has truly been Baltimore's MVP. Lefty Pete Richert came on to notch his 3rd save on the season in the bottom of the 9th.
GAME 4: The O's decided to bypass ace Jim Palmer since his arm was a little sore from his last
outing. In his stead journeyman Jim Hardin took the hill vs Met act Dwight Gooden. Doc has been an enigma for the Amazin's all season. Management can not figure out why someone with all of his talent is faltering game in game out. Speculation in the NY press is that Doc has a substance abuse problem. Manager Andy Weinrib, not being a physician, has been forced to trot Doc out every 5th day and hope he reverts to his 1985 Cy Young form. This game turned into a laugher by the 6th inning. Both pitchers kept the game scoreless for the first 3 innings, but the O's errupted to score 7 off Gooden and put the game out of reach. Gooden gave up 4 of Baltimore's 5 homers on the day. Boog Powell hit his 9th and Frank Robinson hit his 8th. Even pitcher Tom Hardin found the blueprint for the long ball.
Baltimore swept the series and moved to 20-4 to solidify their lead in the AL. New York dropped below .500 and opened the door for the rest of the NL to move into 1st place in what seems to be a division no one wants to win.
GAME 1: (Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, MD) Crafty lefties Bob Ojeda and Dave McNally hooked up for a classic pitcher's duel. McNally got 2 runs, Ojeda got 0 and the O's took the opener. Brooks Robinson hit a tape measure shot off Ojeda in the 2nd to open the scoring. McNally himself participated in the offense as he singled in the 5th and moved to second when Met RF'er Darryl Strawberry booted the ball and let it go all the way to the wall. Two batters later Davey Johnson singled him home for all the runs that the O's would need on the day.GAME 2: Featured two lefty starters just like the opener. Both Mike Cuellar
and Sid Fernandez were less than impressive. Cueller hung around longer to notch the win to got 5-0, but this game was all on the offense. Up 5-3 in the 6th Randy Myers couldn't hold the game and the O's went on top to win 6-5. George Foster hit 2 big homers for the Mets, who thought it was going to hold up. Oriole magic saw to that not happening. Chico Salmon pinch hit for Cuellar in the 6th and triggered a huge rally with 2 outs. Frank Robinson doubled in 2 in a huge 3 running inning for the birds.
GAME 3: (Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY) This contest saw Ron Darling no hit the O's for 5 innings and look extremely comfortable riding a 5 run 1st inning offense explosion by his teammates. The O's being as magical as they are didn't panic and scored 6 runs in the top of the 9th and the shocked fans at Shea expecting miracles of their own just fell silent. The O's had 6 consecutive batters reach base, which included back to back homers by Frank Robinson and Boog Powell. Paul Blair had the GWRBI with a sac fly. He has truly been Baltimore's MVP. Lefty Pete Richert came on to notch his 3rd save on the season in the bottom of the 9th.GAME 4: The O's decided to bypass ace Jim Palmer since his arm was a little sore from his last
outing. In his stead journeyman Jim Hardin took the hill vs Met act Dwight Gooden. Doc has been an enigma for the Amazin's all season. Management can not figure out why someone with all of his talent is faltering game in game out. Speculation in the NY press is that Doc has a substance abuse problem. Manager Andy Weinrib, not being a physician, has been forced to trot Doc out every 5th day and hope he reverts to his 1985 Cy Young form. This game turned into a laugher by the 6th inning. Both pitchers kept the game scoreless for the first 3 innings, but the O's errupted to score 7 off Gooden and put the game out of reach. Gooden gave up 4 of Baltimore's 5 homers on the day. Boog Powell hit his 9th and Frank Robinson hit his 8th. Even pitcher Tom Hardin found the blueprint for the long ball.Baltimore swept the series and moved to 20-4 to solidify their lead in the AL. New York dropped below .500 and opened the door for the rest of the NL to move into 1st place in what seems to be a division no one wants to win.
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